XOFRAN EL-RADÎ

Baghdad – The rate of child marriage is increasing in Iraq. In October, a mother shared a video demanding the help of women to save her 12-year-old daughter from forced marriage. Women launched a campaign on social media to save the girl.

“My daughter is being forced into marriage by her father,” the mother said in the video. The girl was tried into a forced marriage with the man, who had sexually abused her, the mother said.

Legal process

The mother applied to court with the support of women activists to save her daughter. The man accused of sexually abusing the girl has been reportedly arrested by the court. The court also decided to give the custody of the girl to her mother.

Mother: My daughter will continue to go to school

The father of the girl didn’t allow her to go to school. After getting custody of her daughter, the mother said, “My daughter will continue to go to school after receiving psychological support. The decision of the court should be considered as binding precedent in such cases.”

Protection order because of threats

The mother also demanded a protection order due to threats she receives from the family of her jailed ex-husband. Yesterday, women of Baghdad gathered in front of the courthouse to protest the increasing child marriage in the country.